Chennai, September 25, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A Special Court for NIA Cases in Poonamallee, Chennai, has sentenced four active cadres of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) to life imprisonment for the 2016 murder of C. Sasikumar, spokesperson of Hindu Munnani in Coimbatore, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said.
The convicted accused — Sadam Hussain, Subair, Mubarak and Mohammad Rafiqul Hassan — were each sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Rs 30,000.
According to the NIA, the verdict marks its first conviction involving PFI operatives since the organisation was banned by the Government of India.
Sasikumar was hacked to death in Coimbatore on September 22, 2016. The NIA said the killing was carried out with the intention of spreading terror among a section of society and triggering communal disruption in the region.
The incident was followed by widespread violence across six districts, including Coimbatore City and Coimbatore Rural, leading to the registration of more than 300 FIRs, according to the agency.
The case was initially registered at Thudiyalur Police Station in Coimbatore and subsequently investigated by the CB-CID, Tamil Nadu. Following an order of the Central government, the case was transferred to the NIA and re-registered as RC-03/2018/NIA/DLI on January 22, 2018.
The NIA said its investigation established that the accused, who were active PFI members, entered into a criminal conspiracy and carried out the targeted killing.
Following its investigation, the agency filed a charge sheet and two supplementary charge sheets against five accused persons.
The trial began in 2019, during which 75 prosecution witnesses and two defence witnesses were examined.
The four accused were convicted under Sections 302, 120-B and 153-A of the Indian Penal Code, along with Sections 16, 18 and 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The court acquitted one co-accused, Abu alias Syed Abuthagir. The NIA said it is reviewing the judgment and examining available legal options to challenge the acquittal before the appellate court.
FOLLOW NOW
